How to Choose the Right Truck Accident Attorney

Did you know that it takes the average truck driver 525 feet to come to a complete stop if they are traveling at about 65 miles per hour? Now imagine if a truck driver was driving faster than that and then suddenly had to come to a complete stop due to a situation on the highway.

So many people lose their lives or suffer from severe injuries from truck accidents. If you recently sustained injuries from a truck accident, you may want to consider seeking help from a truck accident attorney. Please continue reading below to learn more about the pros and cons of hiring a truck accident attorney to help you with your situation and who you can reach out to for more information. 

Look for Truck Accident Expertise

There is a huge difference between a truck accident and a car accident claim. Car accident claims are easier to handle because you have one main point of contact, the auto insurance adjuster.

Even if multiple vehicles are involved in a loss, you usually have the information for the other drivers so you can speak with their insurance company. When it comes to truck accidents, there are several different parties involved.

For example, you may have to deal with the insurance company over the truck driver and trucking company. If there are any issues with who loaded the items onto the truck, they may also be liable for their actions.

In addition to dealing with several different insurance companies, you have to deal with the lawyers who protect the interest of the trucking company and any associated insurance companies. 

Getting a straight answer on who to go after when going through a claim like this is tedious and exhausting. It is best to work with a truck accident attorney with experience handling a truck accident claim because they know who to target and how to negotiate on your behalf. 

Truck Carrier Regulation Knowledge

Reputable truck accident attorneys have a wealth of knowledge regarding truck carrier regulations. Truck drivers are only allowed to drive for specific hours, and they cannot drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If they break these regulations, your attorney can hold them liable for any damages or injuries they cause you. Truck drivers are also only allowed to carry a certain weight in the back of their trailers. If the cargo is overfilled, it can severely throw the truck’s balance off. When this happens, the trailer can jackknife, tip over, or make it hard for the driver to slow down if there is sudden traffic on the road. 

Knowing these truck regulations is key to a successful truck accident lawsuit. Your attorney will review the facts of the case and check to see if the driver violated truck driving regulations. 

Experience With Personal Injury Cases

In addition to having experience and knowledge in handling truck accident claims, your truck accident lawyer should have extensive experience handling personal injury cases. Truck accidents can leave lasting impressions on someone’s life with severe injuries.

These accidents can also devastate a family with a wrongful death. The life-threatening injuries that come from a truck accident may require you or your loved one to need specialized treatment.

This includes rehabilitation or long-term care. You want your truck accident lawyer to know what types of compensation you can receive based on the facts of your case and the types of injuries you have. 

When you look to hire an attorney to handle your case, don’t be afraid to ask them about their experience handling personal injury cases. The attorney should be able to provide you with limited information about their previous cases. Due to attorney-client privileges, they can only offer you so much information. The attorney should be able to give you a brief overview of their previous cases and their success rates with cases similar to yours. 

Knowledge of Local Laws

Knowing truck regulation laws is one thing, but your lawyer must be aware of local laws that also affect your case. Each state has its own statutes of limitations and rules and regulations.

Your attorney must be aware of these laws in your state. If your case goes to trial, this type of information will be beneficial when your attorney deals with the rules of your jurisdiction. 

Truck Accident Lawyer Reviews

Another way to see if an attorney is a good fit for you is by checking out their reviews. Some attorneys only highlight the best reviews on their websites, making it hard for you to gauge how other clients felt about their working relationship properly.

You can utilize third-party websites such as the Better Business Bureau, Avvo, or Google reviews. Although you can gain a decent idea of how other clients felt about their time working with the truck accident attorney, it is best to speak with them yourself.

Most attorneys offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. During that meeting, you can ask them any questions about your case. 

Follow Your Intuition

When you first meet with the attorney about your case, check in with how comfortable you are when you speak with them over the phone or in person. If you feel uncomfortable or the lawyer doesn’t want to answer specific questions, you may want to see counsel elsewhere.

A reputable attorney should make you feel comfortable with them, and their office staff should be attentive and helpful. Please don’t feel obligated to sign a contract with an attorney after meeting with them. 

Payment Schedule

Many different attorneys offer their services for a fee that you pay upfront. Other attorneys can work with you and have you pay them at specific points of the case.

Reputable truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t have to pay anything out of your pocket unless you win your case. Even if you win your case, the attorney will deduct their fees from your settlement check and give you the rest. 

Truck Accident Attorney Availability

Your attorney must be available for you when you need them. Attorneys do handle other cases at the same time as yours, but they should not be overwhelmed with work to the point where they can’t get back to you.

Even if they aren’t available, there should be someone else who can answer your questions. Before you choose your attorney, don’t be afraid to ask them what their availability looks like.

Questions to ask the attorney about their availability:

• How can I reach you if I have questions?
• Is there someone else I can speak with if you’re not available?
• How many cases are you currently handling?
• How many attorneys are on my case?

Knowing the answer to these questions is crucial to the success of your case. You want to have a dedicated attorney who can walk you through this devastating time. 

Willingness To Settle Out of Court

Insurance companies offer victims low settlement offers to resolve your claim quickly so they can move on to their next one. Auto insurance adjusters are there to protect the interest of their employer, not offer you a fair settlement.

With the right negotiation skills, you may be able to receive the compensation you deserve without having to go to trial. To get the best settlement possible, you should partner with a reputable attorney to review your case and try to settle the claim without going to trial.

The right attorney should do their best to try to settle the case out of court if possible. Of course, each case has different factors that could affect your case. For example, if there is a wrongful death or a severe injury, your case may need to go to trial. If it does, make sure your attorney has trial experience. 

Success Rate

When seeking the right attorney for your case, you want to ensure they have a good track record of successful case verdicts. These results should also include any settlements made out of court.

An attorney’s success rate can be measured by how many claims they win and how much compensation they receive as a result of handling the case. Make sure you ask the attorney about their success rate and to learn more about their track record. 

Advises About Available Compensation for Your Claim

A skilled truck accident attorney knows about all the relevant damages you can claim. Each case is different, as one client may be able to claim more damages than someone else, so it is best to speak with a truck accident attorney for more information. Some general damages could apply to each claim, such as receiving compensation for medical bills or property damage.

Additional damages you may be able to claim for your truck accident:

• Lost income
• Disability
• Reduced earning capacity
• Mental anguish
• Diminished quality of life
• Pain and suffering

As mentioned earlier, it is best to speak with an attorney so they can go over the facts of your case and let you know what damages you can claim. You may be able to receive more compensation than you think. 

Sets the Right Expectation

You deserve to receive all that you can from your personal injury claim, but you should also have realistic expectations for your case. When you first speak with your attorney, please give them your honest concerns and listen to their advice.

No attorney should make promises about winning specific amounts of money for your case, as it can vary. An attorney may compare your claim to another client with similar aspects to your case, but they should not guarantee anything.

When negotiating with an auto insurance adjuster, the settlement amount can change from day to day. If your case goes to trial, the decision of what you should receive falls on the jury. 

When you speak with an attorney, listen to what they guarantee and how they talk to you. It is best to work with a truck accident attorney who can give you a brief synopsis of what may or may not happen.

They can tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of your case and what you should expect. Again, if any attorney tries to guarantee you a high settlement amount, it is best to seek counsel elsewhere. 

Why Should You Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?

Truck accidents involve several responsible parties, and there could be different potential causes that resulted in your accident. As mentioned earlier, the different factors that affect your case could surround if the truck driver was under the influence or if they carried an overweight load. 

Hiring an attorney makes the entire claims process easy. They will investigate your case to find the contributing factors and locate the parties responsible for your injuries. Truck accident attorneys have the experience and negotiation knowledge needed to give your case the best chance of winning. 

Truck Accident Attorney Near Me

Truck accidents can devastate someone’s life due to the severity of this type of claim. One may end up with severe injuries, or you could lose a loved one due to the negligence of a truck driver.

Instead of going up against the truck driving company and their insurance company alone, you can speak with a reputable truck accident attorney for more assistance. If you’ve recently suffered injuries at a truck driver’s expense and need help navigating your claim and getting the compensation you deserve, contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our team is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your trucking accident.